I climbed Molo's east side from our campsite at Kennedy Lake, first heading almost up to Lost Lake. There was lots of scree, and when there wasn't there was lots of well-consolidated snow. Unfortunately I didn't bring crampons so I had to favor the scree. The crumbly rock made the final ascent more dicey than it should have been, but the views from the top were spectacular. I found the original and rarely-signed summit register in an rusty metal film canister. The original entry claimed the first ascent in 1977, and there were only 4 other entries besides that (I didn't add mine because I forgot a writing utensil).
I was planning on hitting Kennedy Peak before heading back to camp, but I'd had enough scree for one outing so I called it a day.

Dayhike out of Kennedy Meadows; gained Relief Peak's NE Ridge from Grouse Creek and continued around over Molo Mtn. and Kennedy Peak, returning via Soda Canyon and Kennedy Creek. This was a longer day than it had looked on the map, with some truly awful scree to gain Relief's NE Ridge (a snow climb of the north face would be more enjoyable) and some tedious sidehilling on the way to Molo--but fortunately with some fantastic views that more than made up for the poor climbing.

Approached from upper Summit Creek to the SW aspect. There were some steep and exposed class 2-3 sections. The rock is crumbly volcanic stuff. Descended a short way down the east ridge and then traversed high angle snow slopes over to Kennedy Peak.

This is my very first summit climb. I caught the climbing bug something fierce on a backpacking trip the previous month. While on a business trip in nearby Sacramento, I decided to spend the weekend in the Sierra in order to climb Kennedy Peak. As I could not get anyone to go with me on short notice, I decided to go alone. I camped at Lost Lake thinking that I would would climb Kennedy Peak from the back side. I'd been through there a few times before so I didn't feel the need to study a map. How foolish did I feel when I got to the top of what I always thought was the back side of Kennedy Peak - and did not see Kennedy Lake on the other side!

I, of course, had climbed the wrong mountain...!!! (How hilarious is that?!) My error was immediately obvious to me, but I was still filled with exhileration at reaching the summit. That exhileration has never left me. And so now Molo Mountain has earned a soft spot in my heart for obvious reasons. I completed my first summit climb, and it was a solo climb at that. (Too bad it was the wrong mountain! - ha)